McDonald's billboards written in the Hmong language went up this week in two locations: the intersection of University and Lexington avenues and the intersection of Payne and Bush avenues. (Courtesy of Keller Grayson Communications)

McDonald's Corp. on Tuesday apologized for a pair of St. Paul billboards whose Hmong language text has been faulted for its mangled translation.

"While it was our intention to create a special message for our Hmong population in Minnesota, we now realize that an error was made in the translation of 'Coffee Gets You Up, Breakfast Gets You Going,' " according to a statement from Gregg Miskiel, marketing director of McDonald's Midwest Region.

"It was not our intention to offend anyone and we apologize for the error," Miskiel added. "We are working with our local advertising agency to correct these billboards and will re-post next week."

The billboards at University Avenue and Lexington Parkway and Payne and Bush avenues tout the restaurant chain's breakfast offerings in Hmong. But Hmong speakers say the ad slogan's incorrect syntax renders it nonsensical.

The billboards were installed last week under the direction of local McDonald's franchisees and their ad agency.

With more than 64,000 people of Hmong descent, the Twin Cities have the highest concentration of Hmong-Americans in the United States.

The billboards are believed to be the first time McDonald's has ever advertised in Hmong in the United States.